Neocalanus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Crustacea |
Class: | Maxillopoda |
Order: | Calanoida |
Family: | Calanidae |
Genus: |
Neocalanus Sars, 1925 |
Type species | |
Neocalanus gracilis (Dana, 1852) |
Neocalanus is a genus of marine copepods. They are a dominant component of the open water ecosystems of the northern Pacific Ocean.Neocalanus are large copepods, reaching body lengths (i.e., prosome length) of more than 8 mm (0.31 in) in Neocalanus plumchrus.
There are six species:
Neocalanus flemingeri is predominantly annual, with a significant fraction of biennials in some areas. The largest females reach prosome length of about 5 mm (0.20 in); males are smaller.
Neocalanus are important food items for many predators, such as North Pacific right whale and least auklet.